It seems I missed the 10% RA buff at vet1, okay. That doesn't change my observations and your disability to read: I was talking specifically about building a SECOND pioneer squad in the beginning instead of calling in Assault Grens, and to continue using those two Pioneers together like a single unit. When used in that manner, alle your nice neglectible stat differences become… negoectible, because the three additional models that the Pioneer mini-blob brings onto the field pretty much trumps all of those differences.
And if you don't believe me, you are welcome to try it. Assault Grens and Pioneers had an identity problem even before the WBP, now it is even worse as a direct result of those changes.
First, where are all the DIRECT NERFS you are talking about?
About going 2 Pio mini blob, you are gonna get melted by focus fire on 1 squad before you can get on effective range (no sprint). AND that is not gonna work pass the first or 2nd engagement cause Pios don't scale combat wise. A flamer can give you some combat utility but not that won't improve your survivability.
Reasons you want 1/2 AG: it's a call in which bypass built time. You are fighting SU con/maxim spam or UKF.
Current problems: SU T1 meta and light vehicles which are gonna destroy you if you don't have snares.
AG gives you a variation for skipping T1 instead of just going Pio and MGs (even if you go Prosttrupen you want T1 sooner or later for faust).